Paul K. Waring '38 Male Athlete of the Year
Robert Vorse
Ice Hockey
As a member of the men's ice hockey team, Robert Vorse played a key role in the Falcons successful 2008-09 season. In the ECAC Championship tournament, he helped lead Fitchburg State to a first round victory over conference rival UMass Darmouth and propelled Fitchburg State into the semi-finals.
For his efforts, he was named the ECAC Northeast Goalie of the Year while earning All-Conference first team honors. This young man was also named to the 2008-09 New England Hockey Writers ECAC Northeast All-Region team after having a standout season in net. He collected 484 saves in 995 minutes played and ranked among league leaders in save percentage, goals against average and winning percentage.
Paul K. Waring '38 Female Athlete of the Year
Stephanie Payette
Women's Basketball
Payette, a four-time MASCAC All-Conference player, earned her deserving honor after having a standout season in which she carved her name into the Fitchburg State record books. Payette led the Falcons on the hardwood this season, averaging a team-best 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. She ranked among conference leaders in points per game, rebounds, field goal percentage and blocks.
In addition to those accomplishments, this young lady reached two exclusive milestones this season as she became the 8th female to reach the 1000 point plateau and also became the program's all-time leading rebounder. She currently ranks 4th on Fitchburg State's all-time scoring list with 1,220 career points.
Male Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year
Wayne Bonkowski
Ice Hockey
Wayne Bonkowski is a young man who has succeeded both on the ice and in the classroom. He is a three-year member of the ECAC Northeast All-Academic team and has achieved a 3.56 GPA in Exercise and Sports Science.
During his time at Fitchburg State he has collected several scholastic awards and has been named to the prestigious President's List after posting a 3.75 GPA or higher for three straight terms. This year, Bonkowski received the 2009 Leadership in Exercise and Sports Science award as the outstanding student in his major.
In addition to his academic honors he has developed strength and conditioning programs for many of Fitchburg State's intercollegiate teams and fellow student-athletes. This senior defenseman has been a four-year member of the Falcons ice hockey team, appearing in 95 games with 24 career points.
Female Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year
Emily Sullivan
Cross-Country/Track
Emily Sullivan is a young lady who has consistently demonstrated extraordinary effort in both her academic and extracurricular activities. She has participated on three teams during each of her four years at Fitchburg State and has served as the captain of the cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams.
Sullivan currently holds a 3.29 GPA in Nursing and has been named to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
During her time at Fitchburg State, Sullivan has been an active member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and in 2008 was nominated to represent the College at the prestigious NCAA Leadership Conference.
Male Leadership Award
Keon Valcourt
Cross-Country/Track
Keon Valcourt is truly a leader in every sense of the word. Although he is rarely outspoken, this young man has certainly motivated his peers by example as he has demonstrated an outstanding work ethic in the classroom, on the track and in the working world.
Valcourt has been a three sport athlete during each of his four years at Fitchburg State, participating in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. His role as leader has been evident as he has served as the men's cross country captain for the past two years.
Valcourt was recently named MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week after qualifying for the New England Division III Championships in the 3000 meter steeplechase. He has been a top tier student while majoring in Sports and Exercise Management.
Female Leadership Award
Eryne Cotter
Field Hockey/Softball
Eryne Cotter has been an extraordinary leader for two teams at Fitchburg State, while majoring in Criminal Justice. As a two-sport athlete, Cotter has demonstrated her commitment to team success through her hard work, enthusiasm and determination.
Cotter has served as the captain of the both the field hockey and the softball teams. After suffering a season-ending injury during her junior year, this young lady rebounded to have a very successful 2008-09 campaign.
Cotter has been an active member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and has worked as a student assistant to the Athletic Trainers. In 2008 she represented the College at the highly selective NCAA Leadership Conference.
Kruzcek Award
Carlos De La Rosa
Football/Track
Carlos De La Rosa is a Holyoke, Mass native and three-sport athlete at Fitchburg State College. What makes this young man so deserving of this award is his unique background and challenging journey. From his father passing away at an early age and his movement throughout foster homes, this young man has experienced many life challenges. However, instead of letting these challenges take over, De La Rosa continued to battle and became a standout athlete at Fitchburg State.
Recruited as a football player, De La Rosa has blossomed into a three-sport standout during his time at the College. On the gridiron, he led all receivers with seven touchdowns catches and 435 yards receiving. On the track, he has excelled in the 200 meter dash, the long jump and the triple jump, while anchoring Fitchburg State's 4x100 relay team. With his efforts, he has earned bids into the Division III Championships, ECAC Championships and All-New England Championships.
Male Rookie of the Year
Alex Ivanov
Track
Alex Ivanov has made his mark on the Fitchburg State athletic program early and often. He has been a two-sport standout at the College, posting record breaking numbers in both indoor and outdoor track.
Ivanov has not taken the easy route towards these record breaking numbers, competing in five, seven and ten individual events at a time. As a member of the indoor track team, he broke into the Fitchburg State records books, posting all-time records in the five-event pentathlon and seven-heat heptathlon.
In addition to his program records, Ivanov has collected three MASCAC Athlete of the Week nominations, while posting qualifying marks for the New England Division III Championships, the ECAC Championships and the All-New England Championships.
More recently, he competed at the All-New England Championships where he provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships with 6,301 points in the ten event meet.
Co-Female Rookie of the Year
Amanda Burns
Women's Lacrosse
Amanada Burns has made an immediate impact in her first collegiate season, leading the Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team to a program record, six wins.
Burns ranked second on the team in scoring with a team-high 58 goals and 12 assists, while picking up a team-best 66 groundballs. This young lady put Fitchburg State women's lacrosse on the map nationally, ranking 12th in the country with 4.40 groundballs per contest. Burn also ranked among conference leaders in most offensive categories, including point per game, groundballs and goals scored.
Burns is a two-time New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) Rookie of the Week honoree, a NEWLA All-Conference first team member and the reigning NEWLA Rookie of the Year.
Co-Female Rookie of the Year
Carissa Kennedy
Women's Soccer/Women's Lacrosse
Carissa Kennedy has also achieved amazing feats this year on two different teams. While being a two-sport standout at Fitchburg State College, Kennedy has earned All-conference honors with both the women's soccer team and women's lacrosse team.
She is the reigning MASCAC Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year after playing a vital role in the Falcons ECAC playoff run. Kennedy ranked second on the team in scoring with ten goals and four assists, while netting two game-winners.
In addition to her accomplishments on the soccer field, this young lady also made her mark on the women's lacrosse program. She was a solid force in the Falcons midfield, ranking among team leaders in caused turnovers, groundballs and draw controls. Kennedy dominated the NEWLA Conference defensively, ranking first overall in caused turnovers and fifth in groundballs.
Contributor to the Program
Mark Geller
Sports Information Office
This year's Contributor to the Program is a very deserving individual who has played a major role within Fitchburg State athletics. Mark Geller has been a vital asset to the athletics department, serving multiple roles during his tenure.
Geller is the type of person who is always ready to lend hand and put others before himself. Throughout his time, he has served as a work study worker in the Sports Information Office but is better known as the Voice of the Falcons. Mark has attended almost every home contest over the past five years, all while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.
Throughout his time, Mark has proven that his passion for Fitchburg State athletics is endless. Whether it was on the mic or behind the scenes, he has certainly left his mark at Fitchburg State